It was all hustle for the eight major Democratic candidates for California’s 2026 gubernatorial election during the party’s state convention in Anaheim over the weekend: they speed-walked between caucus meetings to give elevator pitch campaign speeches, posed for selfies with supporters and passed out swag at booths in the main convention hall.

California's most loyal Democrats got a good look this weekend at the wide field of gubernatorial candidates jockeying to replace Gov. Gavin Newsom at the state Democratic Party's annual convention in Anaheim.